Minnesota Pushes Foraging Rights Expansion
A Minnesota task force is urging lawmakers to expand support for foragers by proposing new laws and research initiatives to put wild berry picking and mushroom hunting on equal footing with hunting and fishing. The initiative could lead to formal guidance, expanded access rights, and educational resources for those who blend backpacking with wild food gathering. Current regulations treat foraging as secondary to traditional outdoor activities despite growing interest in wilderness food sourcing.
- The Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force was established by the legislature in 2025 and is chaired by Sen. Susan Pha (DFL-Brooklyn Park). It was created in response to public opposition to the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) earlier plans to create more restrictive foraging rules internally. - A central recommendation is to pass a state law that reverses the current legal framework. Instead of foraging being prohibited with a few exceptions, it would be recognized as a legal recreational and cultural activity, allowed everywhere on DNR-managed land except for specifically protected species or areas. - Current regulations in Minnesota state parks permit the harvesting of edible fruits and mushrooms only for personal use. It is illegal to disturb or dig up other plants, including culturally significant ones like leeks (ramps), wildflowers, or fern fiddleheads. - One of the task force's more debated proposals is to institute a five-year evaluation period after the new law is passed. This would pause the DNR's ability to add significant new restrictions, allowing time for data collection on the ecological impact of foraging. - The legislation that formed the task force also put a temporary moratorium in place, preventing the DNR from creating new foraging rules until July 1, 2027. - The 15-member task force includes legislators, DNR appointees, foraging experts from groups like the Minnesota Foraging Alliance, tribal members, and scientists. Its duties include developing recommendations consistent with Indigenous and other cultural traditions. - The task force must submit its final report with detailed, actionable recommendations to the state legislature and the DNR commissioner by February 28, 2026.
